HD Kumaraswamy Levels Coupons For Vote Charge Against Congress After Casting His Franchise

Ramanagara : Amidst the ongoing second phase of Lok Sabha elections, Former Karnataka Chief Minister and JDS candidate from Mandya Lok Sabha seat, HD Kumaraswamy, along with his wife Anitha Kumaraswamy and son Nikhil Kumaraswamy cast their vote at a polling booth in Ramanagara and and said that Election commission should change the election system in India.

Speaking to reporters after casting his vote, HD Kumaraswamy alleged that the Congress' candidates had been distributing gift cards worth Rs 10,000 or more to lure voters.

"These people started misusing the government after they won the assembly elections. They have been distributing these gift cards worth of Rs 10,000. By offering these kinds of things, they want to get the vote illegally."

He further added, "Several institutions haven't done anything. We have seen that. My personal advice to the Election Commission is that it's better to change the election system so that these kind of coupons cannot be used to throw money and get votes."

Kumaraswamy also alleged that even after complaining, nothing happened. "Whatever complaint we have given to the Election Commission of India, there is no action taken at all. The state government is collaborating with these kinds of people. They are helping them..."

Kumaraswamy also said that the BJP-JDS alliance will win all the 14 seats that went to the polls in Karnataka today.

The second phase has 88 Lok Sabha constituencies across 13 States/Union Territory including 14, in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, 20 in Kerala, eight in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, six in Madhya Pradesh, three each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and one each in Tripura, Manipur, and Jammu & Kashmir.

With weather conditions predicted to be within normal ranges, voters can cast their vote comfortably. For the convenience of voters, meticulous arrangements have been made at all polling stations including facilities, to deal with hot weather conditions, according to the Election Commission.

According to the ECI, over 15.88 crore voters will be voting in the second phase which includes 8.08 crore male electors, 7.8 crore female electors, and 5929 third-gender electors.

A total of 4553 flying squads, 5731 static surveillance teams, 1462 video surveillance teams and 844 video viewing teams are keeping surveillance round the clock to strictly and swiftly deal with any form of inducement of voters across the 1.67 lakh polling stations, as per the ECI press note.